If you've been called by a debt collector and aren't sure what to do, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has provided five sample letters.

If you do not send a dispute letter within 30 days, the collection agency can assume it’s a valid debt. » LEARN: ... but you do have rights for disputing a debt collection.

This letter should include your name, the debt amount, the delinquent account and your consumer rights regarding debt collection. It’s essential you pay close attention to the validation letter ...

If the debt collector cannot prove that you owe the debt and continues with debt collection activity, calls, letters, and credit reporting, you can file a complaint with the CFPB and also dispute ...

When disputing wrongful collections, the debt relief company will conduct a thorough review of your credit reports and collection documentation to identify potential legal violations by the collector.

: We've started getting calls and letters from debt collectors who claim my husband, Thomas, has unpaid accounts. This isn't true. The callers eventually tell us the last four digits of the person ...

I am formally requesting that you validate all notations you have submitted to the three major credit reporting agencies by {name of the collection agency or original creditor} for me, {your name ...

The bottom line. Don't ignore collection accounts you don't owe. They won't go away on their own and can seriously damage your credit score. It's important to act quickly and dispute incorrect ...

A debt verification letter is the same thing as a debt dispute letter. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers templates you can use to create one. In this letter, you should include: ...